Ask any YouTuber and they will tell you that generating significant views and subscribers isn't easy. But with the right strategy and tools, any video creator can build an engaged subscriber base when they understand what those subscribers want to watch.

Appealing to an audience to watch content you are passionate about making is just the first step, you need to know how to reach them and get your videos discovered. Our guides to how to guide more views on YouTube will give you the best tips to succeed on the platform.

Getting Views

How To Get More Views on YouTube

Getting thousands or even millions of YouTube subscribers is a dream for most creators. In the articles below, we'll show you how to turn casual viewers into long-term fans. 

Subscribers

YouTube Subscribers

Do you want to make money on YouTube? Millions of creators are earning a very good living from monetizing the platform and uploading content that drives huge views and engagements. Whether that YouTube income is from advertising revenue, merchandise sales, or brand deals, or subscriptions, we keep you updated with best practices and ideas.

Monetization

How To Make Money on YouTube

Want to see how your channel is performing? Read these YouTube analytics articles to discover what's working and what isn't. You'll learn how to identify which videos have the most Watch Time, clicks, audience retention, revenue, and more.

Analytics

YouTube Analytics

Watch Time is arguably THE most important metric on YouTube right now, and creators won’t be able to monetize their content without 4000 hours of it. But what is it and how can creators increase the amount of Watch Time their videos attract? We keep you updated on the best practices around Watch Time, and how you can increase how much your video content generates.

Watch Time

YouTube Watch Time

YouTube Shorts content is set to explode! 

All the latest tips, tricks, and rock-solid advice you need for this new feature.

YouTube Shorts

Do you know how to do keyword research so you understand what videos people are actually searching for on YouTube? Do you know how to create a custom YouTube thumbnail? Do you know how to create a Playlist on YouTube?

vidIQ has a ton of tips that will help every creator maximise their video content. We publish content every week to keep you up to date with all the best practices.

Tips & Tricks

YouTube Tips & Tricks

At vidIQ we have incredible insights into what viewers are searching for on YouTube. Not only can we confirm the top keywords being searched for, we can also show you how you can leverage that interest to create content around trending topics and tentpole events. That's going to give you a clear edge over other creators!

Insights

YouTube Insights

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

Thumbnails are one of the biggest pain points for new creators, and an important one to solve. Thumbnails are the "book cover" of your video—something that needs to grab attention in just a fraction of a second. 

There are so many elements that go into making that winning thumbnail for your content, and it's simply not possible to address all of that here. So, 

 with expert, John Scott, to get all your thumbnail queries answered.

In this post, we'll walk you through the ideal 

, some key best practices for creating thumbnails that stand out!

12 Types of YouTube Thumbnails People Love to Click On

First impressions are critical in the endless ocean of YouTube content. The thumbnail plays a massive role in getting viewers to click on your video over countless others. For new YouTubers trying to gain traction, getting your thumbnail right can be the difference between a low-performing video and that ever-alluring viral hit. Here’s why size specifically matters:

: YouTube thumbnails appear across a wide range of devices—desktops, tablets, and, most importantly, mobile phones. Therefore, you need a thumbnail that remains sharp and eye-catching across all these platforms.

: Thumbnails with the correct size and dimensions ensure a polished, professional look. Low-quality, blurry images won’t just make your video less appealing—they’ll make it look amateurish.

 Faster Than Ever: 6 Ways to Make YouTube Thumbnails in Record Time

The Best Size for YouTube Thumbnails in 2024

When designing your thumbnail, the recommended size is 

 with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This size works across devices and ensures your thumbnail looks pleasing to the eye. Additionally, the minimum width YouTube accepts is 640 pixels but going lower than the recommended size is probably not a good idea. To keep things simple, here's what you need to follow.

: 16:9 (standard YouTube video aspect ratio)

https://www.oberlo.com/blog/youtube-thumbnail-size

Using the optimal size guarantees that your thumbnail will look crisp, regardless of the screen size it's being viewed on. It also helps your video stand out in YouTube search results and suggested video sections, making it an essential element of your overall video SEO strategy.

Best Practices for Creating YouTube Thumbnails

Creating a well-designed thumbnail is more than just getting the size right. It’s about crafting something that resonates with your audience and drives them to click. Let’s break down some important design strategies that’ll help your thumbnails pop in 2024:

Your thumbnail needs to deliver a clear message in a split second. Overloading it with too many details, colors, or text can be overwhelming, especially when viewed on smaller screens like mobile phones. Stick to one focal point and keep the design clean.

Text on thumbnails can be incredibly effective—if done right. Use 

 that stand out against the background. Avoid cramming too many words; instead, aim for short, snappy phrases that intrigue viewers. Also, contrast is essential. If your background is dark, make sure your text is light, and vice versa.

Your thumbnail should immediately grab attention, even when it’s displayed alongside hundreds of others. Using high-contrast colors can help your image stand out. Consider using colors that are complementary or that contrast sharply with YouTube’s default red, black, and white color scheme.

Thumbnails that feature human faces—especially ones that show strong emotions—tend to get higher engagement. Whether it’s excitement, surprise, or curiosity, showing a human expression can create an instant connection with potential viewers.

One great trick for building brand recognition is to use a consistent style for all your thumbnails. This could include specific color schemes, text placement, or the use of your logo in a corner. Over time, viewers will come to recognize your videos at a glance, making it more likely they’ll click on your content.

For example, this is how the vidIQ channel home page looks at first glance. As you can see, there is homogeneity in the way we use our creators faces and other graphical elements across videos./

While designing thumbnails can be fun, it’s wise to avoid a few traps. Here are some common mistakes that you should avoid at all costs:

: Never use clickbait or misleading images that have nothing to do with your video’s content. This will only frustrate viewers, hurt your channel’s reputation, and lead to a high bounce rate—something YouTube’s algorithm won’t like.

: You don’t want to clutter your thumbnail with unnecessary text. Keep it short and to the point. Let the title of your video do the talking, and use text on your thumbnail sparingly.

: More than half of YouTube’s traffic comes from mobile devices, so always ensure your thumbnails are legible on small screens. If you’re adding text, make sure it’s large and bold enough to read easily on a smartphone.

: A blurry or pixelated thumbnail can significantly reduce your video’s chances of getting clicked. Always use high-resolution images, and if you’re unsure, err on the side of larger file sizes (

Tips for Testing and Optimizing Thumbnails

If you’re not sure which thumbnail design will work best, don’t be afraid to experiment. YouTube allows you to change thumbnails even after your video has been published. Here are some tips for testing and optimizing your thumbnails over time:

: Try switching between different thumbnails on the same video and track their performance in 

. This way, you can identify which design drives more clicks.

 of your videos. A higher CTR means more people are engaging with your content, which helps boost your visibility in YouTube’s algorithm.

: Beyond the CTR, also look at how long people are watching your video. If your audience is dropping off quickly after clicking, your thumbnail might not accurately represent your content. 

 for optimizing, testing, and comparing different thumbnail options for the same video by using the above metrics. 

According to YouTube, 90% of the best-performing videos use custom thumbnails.

 In 2024, making it on YouTube involves more than just creating great content—you need to package it well, starting with your thumbnail. Understanding the 

 and following design best practices will set you on the path to success. 

Whether you’re just starting or looking to level up your YouTube game, getting your thumbnail right is a crucial step to increasing your views, engagement, and subscriber count. 

Now it’s time to create that killer thumbnail

Learn the correct YouTube thumbnail measurements for 2024 and how to optimize them for the best quality and viewer engagement!

YouTube Thumbnail Measurements: The Right Size for 2024

Hitting that 10,000-subscriber milestone is like climbing a YouTube mountain, especially with the avalanche of new content dropping every second. 

That's why we're celebrating 10 creators who pushed through! They used creativity, relentlessness, and vidIQ tools to reach 10,000 YouTube subscribers. To all those amazing creators, welcome to the 10K Subs Club!

Remember, being part of the vidIQ community means you're on a journey to stardom using 

. Whether you've hopped aboard to jazz up your videos, hunt down the perfect keywords, or spark fresh video ideas, this celebration is all about you. Here's to every victory, big and small! 🎈🎊

Top Channels Passing 10,000 Subscribers in October

 makes entertaining videos for kids featuring toys, animals, and animated sing-alongs.

 makes satirical videos about gaming culture.

DM Garib Vlogs displays the "village lifestyle" through planting, harvesting, cooking, and more.

 makes videos about artificial intelligence, content creation, and online marketing.

 creates playlists filled with lo-fi music.


6. かまぼこ屋の娘 (Kamaboko shop's daughter)

 shares what it's like to work at a family business.

 makes funny videos about gaming culture.

8. Живой организм (Living Organism)

 educates viewers about how their organs respond to different foods.

 shares insightful talks, interviews, case studies, and guides about how to succeed at product management.

Congrats to everyone who had amazing subscriber growth last month! 🥳 If you want to see your channel grow, don't forget to 

 and get robust tools, data, and video ideas.

A graphic showing the words 10,000 subscribers 

These phenomenal YouTubers got 10,000 subs in just 30 days! Meet 10 rising creators who talk about AI, gaming culture, health, and more.

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [October]

The YouTube Studio is your backstage pass to 

 happening on your channel. It's where you upload videos, brand your homepage, and set up ways to make some serious cash. 

Curious about how your latest video is performing? There are video analytics to help you out. Ready to apply for monetization? A dedicated page shows you which milestones to reach and how to start earning from your videos. Frankly, there's a tool, page, or panel for everything! 

l, you'll want to get familiar with the YouTube Studio.

Creators use the YouTube Studio to manage their channels and track video performance. It's a designated space to upload videos, edit content, create playlists, write back to commenters, and even apply for YouTube monetization. 

Plus, there are tons of dashboards showing your channel's overall views, 

, subscribers, and revenue. Best of all, the YouTube Studio is free!

1. To open the YouTube creator studio, log in to your channel and click your profile icon. Select 

If you've never used the YouTube Studio before, it's easy to feel overwhelmed considering how huge the platform is. Here, we'll cover the basics of navigating the site and uploading videos — because creating content is all you should have to worry about!

1. Go to the YouTube homepage, then click the 

3. Follow the prompts on the next screen to add a video title, description, thumbnail, tags, and more.

Label your video as 'made for kids' (or not).

Set your video as public, private, or unlisted.

Not quite ready to publish your video content? The good news is you can edit videos in the YouTube Studio and give them a nice, finishing touch. Here's how!

 tab within the studio's navigation bar. It's on the left side of the screen.

2. Hover over the video you want to edit, then click the pencil icon.

Now you're ready to edit! You can do some easy "sprucing up" with the YouTube Studio editor, such as:

Adding free music from the YouTube Audio Library

video editing options for youtube video editor

As you work, use the video timeline to select scenes that need editing.

 you need to find in the creator studio is accessible from the navigation bar? Whether you're looking for monetization data, video analytics, or something else, this section will help you find it. Open the studio, look to your immediate left, and start exploring!

The channel dashboard gives a broad overview of how you're doing on YouTube. It shows recent activity in the past month or so, so you'll get to see:

Subscribers, views, watch time, and revenue in the last month

YouTube also puts creator news on this dashboard, so it's a great place to learn about new tools and features!

The YouTube Studio has a content manager where you can edit everything you've posted so far. It's organized into six distinct tabs:

Select any of the tabs, and you'll see the content you've uploaded within that category. 

From there, you can change the visibility of your content (to public, private, or unlisted), edit video details (title, description, tags, etc.), schedule publish dates, reply to comments, and turn on monetization for your videos.

Want to see how your videos are performing? There's an entire section dedicated to YouTube Studio analytics, such as audience demographics,  click-through rates, traffic sources, and more. You can also view your real-time subscriber count.

YouTube Channel Analytics: The 6 Most Important Video Metrics

But the first thing you'll notice is a huge dashboard showing the basics: views, watch time, subscribers, and estimated revenue for your channel in the last 28 days. Below that is an interactive graph showing how each metric "trended" over the last month. And of course, you can change the time period to get the full picture.

. The next screen lets you filter the graph for 

 time period. Frankly, this is where the real magic happens!

see more button under youtube analytics dashboard

Lastly, there are tons of navigation tabs to take you where you need to go. They will guide you to content, audience, revenue, and research data, the latter showing content gaps and popular search terms on your channel.

Near the bottom is a list of popular content you made in the last month, which is nice to see at a glance.

top youtube content for channel analytics

Like the name suggests, this area focuses on the comment section of your YouTube channel. Here, you can:

Subtitles allow viewers to "read along" as they listen to the audio from your video. They also help viewers with some degree of hearing loss enjoy your content on YouTube.

 translate those captions into their other languages, such as French, German, and Arabic.

channel subtitles for a list of youtube videos

Copyright is a big deal on YouTube. You'll visit this section 

to make sure you haven't "stolen" content from other creators and to keep your channel in good standing. On the flip side, you can browse a list of YouTube videos that contain portions of your own content, which 

YouTube helps you manage all of this. There are tabs for viewing video removal requests, messages you've sent to creators surrounding copyright, and much more. So, this is the best place to 

handle YouTube copyright claims and strikes

A list of channels with copyright matches on YouTube

This guide is for every creator who needs an introduction to the YouTube Studio and its most crucial menus.

The Beginner's Guide to the YouTube Studio

 make thousands of dollars using other people’s content? It seems impossible now that YouTube is dishing out copyright notices, and yet, creators are still getting monetized.

careful when starting a YouTube automation channel, especially with copyrighted material. That's because YouTube automation — the process of using AI or freelancers to create, edit, and publish videos — is hard to accomplish without referencing 

Who is Noah and how does he know any of this, 

great question! Noah isn’t a legal expert, but he’s a genius at running automated YouTube channels. In fact, he oversees 20 of them. They pull in six figures each month, so Noah has seen his fair share of claims, disputes, and lawyers. 

The Truth About AI: Can YouTube Automation Ruin Your Channel?

Our goal is to help you avoid any hiccups, so here’s how to dodge copyright claims on a faceless channel.

Person holding up a sign showing the copyright symbol

Before we dive into the deep stuff, let’s cover the basics. 

 gives the owner of a creative work the exclusive right to use, distribute, and monetize their intellectual property. That could be a song, image, movie, book, TV show, or countless other creations.

YouTube doesn’t like creators using copyrighted material in their videos unless they have permission from the owner. If they don’t have permission, YouTube issues a 

 when it detects “stolen” content in a video.

Creators can dispute these claims, but a 

 is more serious. A strike occurs when a creator notifies YouTube that their content has been used without their permission. The copyright owner can request that the video be removed, or they can choose to monetize it for their benefit. But after three strikes, YouTube can delete your channel permanently — a devastating consequence for any creator.

Copyright Claims vs. Copyright Strikes: Here's the Difference

Making automated content is tricky, but it gets easier when you understand 

When there's a copyright case, U.S. law examines:

The source of the copyrighted work (movie, TV show, song, etc.)

How the copyrighted work is used (commercial, non-commercial, educational, etc.)

The amount of copyrighted material used in a work

Now that you know what copyright law examines, we can answer the burning question. How do creators make money using other people’s work? This typically happens through 

In U.S. copyright law, you can sometimes use small parts of someone else's work for things like reviews, news, teaching, or research without asking for permission or paying the owner. This is called fair use, but it isn't a guaranteed way to make money from YouTube automation.

“What does transformative mean? You have to add value to the original copyrighted work. This means educational value. You have to give commentary, a different perspective, a parody, perhaps. That is what transformative means,” Noah says.

How to Dodge Copyright Issues with an Automated Channel

Want to automate your channel in the safest way possible? Keep reading to learn how, or watch the video below for a visual guide!

1. Don’t Just Borrow Clips — Build a Storyline

The simplest way to dodge copyright claims is to 

 with the clips you've gathered. Bring your educational insight or perspective 

, then use copyrighted content to support your views.

“Is the video revolving around you and not the copyrighted content? If the video is revolving around the copyrighted content, that is not adding value,” Noah says.

For example, taking a video from one channel and posting it to another with a few edits isn't fair use. The creator would have to add 

Some copyrighted content is more risky to use than others. These sources include:

Sports broadcasts (Formula One, Premiere League, NFL)

Video licensing agencies (such as ViralHog)

These entities have lawyers and a system for tracking theft, so you’ll get in trouble pretty quickly for using their content.

, like bodycam footage, public domain works, news clips, and documentaries used for educational purposes. It’s also safer to find user-generated content, i.e., someone who recorded cellphone footage of a “copyrighted event" (the Super Bowl, for example).

Some creators think their videos are more likely to get demonetized if they use several copyrighted clips. But, according to Noah, it’s the other way around. Sourcing a variety of materials, instead of one, is the safest option on YouTube.

“Let's say you want to add stock footage, animations, podcast clips, and news clips; the more different types of footage you use in your YouTube video, the less likely it is for YouTube to detect that copyrighted footage,” Noah says.

If you’re going to use a copyrighted clip, make sure it isn't 

 of the original work. That increases the likelihood of a copyright claim because you’re using the heart of a story — not the supporting pieces. Typically, the heart of the story is significant, impactful, and easy for YouTube or the copyright holder to spot.

For example, it’s a good idea to avoid plot twists that made a movie "famous" overnight. Or a scene that everyone references from a popular TV show. If it's well-known, try to pick something else.

It’s always wise to use shorter clips when it comes to copyrighted material. There’s no set duration to ward off YouTube claims or strikes, but it's harder to detect a three-second clip versus a 10-second one, according to Noah.

of another creator’s work, and you’ll have a better success rate.

Once you have a bunch of clips to use, try mixing them up as best as you can. Use 10 seconds of someone else's content, then switch to 10 seconds of yourself talking or another piece of original content. Then keep alternating like that for the rest of the video. This makes it harder for YouTube to realize you're using copyrighted content.

7. Ask Yourself: Am I Stealing Attention from the Copyright Holder?

One way to get demonetized is to use someone else's work in a way that outshines them. 

A good example of this is using copyrighted clips to make compilation videos on YouTube. These montages rarely offer a new perspective, and they tend to rely on 

 copyrighted source, which is dangerous in itself.

For example, imagine that you want to create a montage of the funniest scenes in the movie 

a comedy, one could argue that collecting the funniest moments reveals too much of the movie. And what happens if more people decide to watch the compilation rather than buy the film? That hurts the copyright holder 

 their business, which may lead to a copyright strike.

Some creators may feel like automated channels have no place on YouTube. But those channels, for whatever reason, are thriving on YouTube. Why not study them and learn how to automate your content in a safe, monetizable way?

If that sounds like fun, here's a step-by-step guide to building a faceless channel!

This post is an overview of how copyright works on YouTube. Please consult a lawyer if you need advice on a specific case.

A hooded man surrounded by money with his face covered by the YouTube logo

Using other people’s content is frowned upon, but somehow, automated channels are still getting monetized on YouTube. Here's how they do it.

YouTube Automation: How to Avoid Copyright Claims on Faceless Channels

Here's a big shoutout to 10 creators who zoomed past the 1,000-subscriber mark on YouTube! Covering everything from gaming to music to earning fast cash, these channels are on fire and gaining subscribers at an incredible pace.

 to level up your YouTube game — this celebration is all about you.

Ready to see which channels made the list? Keep scrolling to meet last month's YouTube MVPs!

Top Channels Passing 1,000 Subscribers in the Last 30 Days

 is a lifestyle channel posting conversations about music, beauty, happiness, relationships, and more.

 is a gaming channel where you'll find gameplay content from several titles.

Are you curious about the fastest-growing small YouTube channels last month? Meet 10 creators who gained 1,000 subscribers in just 30 days!

Your In-Depth Guide to Building a Successful YouTube Channel

10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [October]

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The Beginner's Guide to the YouTube Studio

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YouTube Automation: How to Avoid Copyright Claims on Faceless Channels

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10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 1,000 Subs FAST [September]

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How to Write the Best Titles for YouTube Shorts

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6 Places to Find Trending YouTube Topics for Your Videos

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10 YouTube Channels that Hit 100K Subs FAST! [September]

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Coming Soon: YouTube Announces New AI Tools for Video Creation

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How to Start a YouTube Automation Channel (up to $500K in 90 Days!)

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10 Trending Topics to Grow a Small YouTube Channel [September]

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10 Small YouTube Channels that Hit 10K Subs [September]

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YouTube Unveils 'Related Links' to Connect Shorts and Long-Form Videos

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